Hamilton County Regional Health Council Continues To Advance Tobacco-Free Policies

  • Thursday, November 20, 2014

The first Surgeon General’s report on smoking, issued 50 years ago, confirmed the deadly consequences of tobacco use. At the time, it was common to see people light up a cigarette just about anywhere – in the workplace, on an airplane, and even in a hospital. Although great strides have been made in the past 50 years to reduce and prevent tobacco use, more work must be done to deter a new generation from picking up the dangerous habit. The Hamilton County Regional Health 
Council (RHC) continues to work with city and county officials, community partners, and concerned citizens to address tobacco issues in the community. 

According to the Surgeon General, smoking remains the single largest cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. 
- Smoking rates among adults and teens are less than half what they were in 1964; however, 42 million American adults and about 3 million middle and high school students continue to smoke.
- Nearly half a million Americans die prematurely from smoking each year.
- More than 16 million Americans suffer from a disease caused by smoking.

Tobacco use kills more than 440,000 Americans, including 9,700 Tennesseans, every year; it sickens millions more and costs Tennessee $2.6 billion of the nation’s $193 billion in healthcare bills and lost productivity, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. Tennessee has one of the highest smoking rates in the U.S. 
- In Tennessee, 25 percent of all adults and more than one in five high school students currently smoke.
- In Hamilton County, approximately 20 percent of adults and 17 percent of high school students are smokers.
- An employee who smokes costs his or her employer an extra $5,816 a year (or more) in lost productivity, absenteeism and higher healthcare costs. 

“The devastating effects of tobacco use are undeniable,” said Dr. Ron Blankenbaker of the RHC Health Policy Committee. “We know exposure to secondhand smoke causes a myriad of health problems for both adults and children, that is why we are focused on proven intervention efforts throughout the state,” Dr. Blankenbaker said. 

The State of Tennessee is investing in tobacco prevention efforts by funding targeted programs to eliminate pregnancy smoking, reduce second and thirdhand smoke exposure to infants and children, and prevent youth/adolescent tobacco use. First year funded programs include:
- Baby and Me Tobacco Free, which provides individual counseling for pregnant smokers and free diapers for up to a year after the birth of the baby, upon completion of the program.
- Education for pediatric providers to address exposure reduction and cessation with parents.
- Up-to-date education in schools to teach children about e-cigarettes, the dangers of tobacco exposure, and the effects of tobacco use on health, employment, finances, and quality of life.
- Education in churches and childcare centers to reach families of young children.
- A media campaign that includes billboards and movie theater ads aimed at eliminating second and thirdhand smoke in cars and homes.

The RHC works closely with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department, along with Tobacco Free Chattanooga (TFC) and the Hamilton County Coalition, both local non-profit coalitions, to advocate for tobacco-free outdoor policies that protect the community from toxins that result in asthma attacks, heart attacks, and other health issues. Studies show that communities with tobacco-free policies reduce these health problems by 40-60 percent. 

“While smokers often cite the right to smoke as a reason to avoid policy change, science confirms there is no safe level of exposure,” said Janie Burley, Tobacco Settlement Initiative coordinator at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department. “Tobacco exposure is more harmful than most people realize,” Ms. Burley said. 

The RHC is working to eliminate tobacco use in public spaces throughout Hamilton County. For several years, the Council has worked closely with Friends of the Festival, encouraging them to adopt a tobacco-free policy at the Riverbend Festival. The goal is for the festival board to adopt a tobacco-free campus policy for the Riverbend event, thus eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke for attendees. 

“The festival leadership and board have not yet adopted a tobacco-free policy, though efforts have been ongoing by the RHC and its partners for more than 6 years,” said Dr. Blankenbaker. “We will continue to encourage organizers to follow the lead of Nightfall in downtown Chattanooga and other large festivals throughout the country that prohibit smoking for the sake of the public’s health. We will seek support from City Hall to address the matter through a city ordinance or other restrictive measures,” Dr. Blankenbaker said. The Council has also communicated with the Hamilton County Department of Education to encourage review of its tobacco policy; and, there is interest in working with area universities and colleges to promote the adoption of tobacco-free campus policies.

“TFC is actively working to encourage schools, universities, and employers, to update their tobacco policies,” said Camilla Bibbs-Lee, Tobacco Free Chattanooga member. “It’s vital that we protect the majority of residents who do not smoke and set a positive example for young people in our community,” said Ms. Bibbs-Lee. TFC is also supporting efforts to address the Riverbend tobacco policy issue and the public efforts by the Hamilton County Coalition to encourage the community to 
contact city leaders to take steps to halt tobacco use in public spaces.

Officials said, "We encourage everyone in Hamilton County to support efforts to eliminate tobacco use - in the workplace, on campus, and in public places."

If you are trying to quit smoking there are resources available to help you be successful. The helpline 
at 1-800-QUIT-NOW can provide a personalized quit plan. There are also smoking cessation programs periodically available to the public. 

The Great American Smokeout, held annually on the third Thursday in November, is an ideal time to make a plan to quit smoking for good. By quitting - even for one day - smokers can move toward a healthier life. For additional resources, call the Health Department at 209-8285; or, visit our website or Tobacco Free Chattanooga.

Latest Headlines
Living Well
Wright Brothers Construction And Beaty Fabricating To Sponsor 65 Roses Race
Wright Brothers Construction And Beaty Fabricating To Sponsor 65 Roses Race
  • 3/18/2024

The 3.1-mile walk and 65 Roses 5K race to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is scheduled for Saturday at 9 a.m. Beaty Fabricating Inc. and Wright Brothers Construction will each serve ... more

Erlanger Neurology Receives $75,000 From ALS Association
Erlanger Neurology Receives $75,000 From ALS Association
  • 3/18/2024

Erlanger Neurology was presented with a $75,000 check from the ALS Association on Feb. 20. Officials said, "ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a fatal and progressive neurodegenerative ... more

Sivick Honored With GCCMA Community Program Award
Sivick Honored With GCCMA Community Program Award
  • 3/14/2024

Whitfield County Administrator Robert (Bob) Sivick was honored at the Georgia City-County Management Association Spring Conference last Wednesday with the 2024 Community Program Award for his ... more